Electrode-box.



H. B. HARTMAN.

ELECTRODE Box.

APPLIOATIQN FILED AUG. 11, 1911. 1 065 361 Patented June 24, 1913.

2 SHBETSf'BHEET 1. FIGi 1 IN VENTOR A TTORNE Y I WITNESSES H. B.HARTMAN.

ELECTRODE BOX.

APPLIOATION TILED AUG. 11, 1911.

Patented June 24, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

IN VENTOR III | HQNnbN mwmm III NI$IN fiQM 4 A I 'TORNE Y UNITED STATESPATENT ()FFICE.

HARRY B. I-IARTMAN, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALFTO HIMSELF AND ONE-HALF T0 GEORGE A. DUNNING, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENN-SYLVANIA.

ELECTRODE-BOX.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY B. HARTMAN, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing in the city and county of Phila delphia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a certain new and'useful Improvement inElectrode-Boxes, of which the following is a true and exact description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a partthereof.

My present invention relates to electrode boxes, such as are employed inthe purification of water and in other electrolytic operations andparticularly those in which the liquid to be electrolyzed is under somesubstantial pressure in the electrode containing chamber.

The main object of the present invention is to provide an electrode boxfor the purpose specified which is simple in construction and efiicientin operation.

More specifically, the object of the invention is to provide anelectrode box from which the electrodes may be readily removed forcleaning or replacement, and in which itis possible to readily adjustthe distance between the electrode plates and the electric connectionsthereto. 7

In carrying out my invention I form my electrode box by clampingtogether a stack of spaced apart electrodes with suitable insulatingmaterial interposed between the adjacent pairs of electrodes at theiredges to close the space between each adjacent pair of electrodes at itsmargin, and I provide the electrodes with ports whereby the fluid to beelectrolyzed is caused to flow in a zigzag path from one end of thestackof electrodes to the other. In practice I prefer to clamp the stackof electrode plates between end members, to one or both of which Iattach the external conduit connections.

The various features of novelty which characterizemy invention arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention,however, and the advantages obtained with its use, reference should behad to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which I haveillustrated and described Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 11, 1911.

Patented June 24, 1913. Serial No. 643,474.

several of the forms in which the invention may be embodied.

Of the drawings, Figure l is a sectional elevation of one form ofelectrode box. Fig.

2 is a plan of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan of one of the two forms of electrodes employed in theconstruction shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is a plan of the insulationmember or gasket employed in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 5 is a plan of thesecond form of electrode employed in the construction shown in Figs. 1and 2. Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of a modified electrode box. Fig.7 is a plan view of one of the electrodes employed in the box shown inFig. 6. Fig. 8 is a plan of the insulating gasket employed in the boxshown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a plan of one of the end members -of the box shown in Fig. 6.Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation of a third form of electrode box. Fig.11 is a plan of the bottom end member of the box shown in Fig. 10. Fig.12 is an inverted plan of the top end member of the box shown in Fig.10. Fig.

13, is a plan of one of the two forms of electrodes employed in the boxshown in Fig. 10. Fig. 14 is a plan of the other form of electrodeemployed in the box shown in Fig. 10, and Fig. 15 is a plan of thegasket employed in the electrode box shown in Fig. 10.

In the drawings and referring firstto the construction shown in Figs. 15inclusive, A, represents the base member of the electrode box, which, asshown, is formed wlth an inlet passage A and an outlet passage A whichopen at the upper side of the base member. On the base member arestacked the electrodes, of which there are two alternately disposedforms B and B. Each electrode is separated by a space from the adjacentelectrode or electrodes, and the top and bottom electrodes are spacedaway from an upper end member D and the base member A respectively, byinsulation C. As. shown, the end member D is connected to the lower endof a screw E mounted in a crosshead E. This crosshead E is formed atoneend with an apertured ear E through 'which passes a post A connected atits lower end to the base member A, and is formed at the opposite endwith a slotted eye E adapted to swing into and out of engagement with apost A* secured to the base .member on the opposite side of the stack ofelectrodes from the post- A". The follower D is similarly provided withan apertured ear D slidingly received on the post A and with a slottedear D at its opposite end adapted to receive the post A*. The basemember A, posts A and A crosshead E, screw E and end member D form themain.constituent parts of a press of common member A. Each of theelectrodes B is formed at one side with an elongated slot or port B andeach electrode B is formed with a similar elongated slot or port B, butthese slots B and B are so arranged with respect to the apertures B thatwhen the electrodes are assembled the slots B of the electrodes B are inregister at one side of the stack and the slots B are in register at theopposite side of the assembled stack. The insulation 0 may be formed ofany suitable material, though I consider vulcanized fiber to beparticularly good for this pur ose. In the preferred constructionillustrate the insulation at each side of each electrode is in the formof a one piece gasket in the shape of a rectangular rim, so to speak,enlarged at one corner C to provide a wall surroundng an aperture C sodisposed as to register 1n the assembled stack with the apertures B Whenthe parts are assembled with the stack of electrodes and the interposedin sulation clamped in place to make tight JOIIItS, the apertures orports B and C in the electrodes and interposed insulation gaskets Cunite to form a channel extending upward from the mouth of the inletpassage A to the top of the stack of electrodes. The slots or ports Band B unite with interelectrode spaces to provide a zigzag channelleading from one end'of the box to the other. Advantageously theuppermost gasket may have the aperture C or rather the enlarged portion0 in which this aperture is formed, omitted. In any event I consider itordinarily desirable to form recesses as indicated at A and D in themembers A and D respectively, so that the depths of the chambers at thetop and bottom of the electrode stack proper exceed the thickness of theinsulation gaskets. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the base member ismounted in the drip pan Loeacei Z which serves to collect water whichmay leak from the electrode box. Z represents a valved drain pipeconnection from the drip pan Z. The boss A separates passage A fromrecess A In the construction shown by Fi s.' 6, 7, 8 and 9, theelectrodes BB are all a ike, each being in the form of an elongatedrectangle with a slot B adjacent one end. The electrodes BB are placedin the assembled stack so that the slots B in adjacent electrodes are atopposite sides of the stack. The 1nsulat'ion gaskets CG, employed inthis construction are mthe form of simple open rectangular frames. Thetwo end members AA in this construction are alike, each being in theform of an open ended box with a central orifice A into which a conduitmay be connected and each being provided with apertured ears A at itssides to receive the clamping bolts G by means of which the electrodebox is detachably clamped to ether. I

The electrode box construction illustrated by Figs. 10 to 15 inclusivecomprise a lower end member AB generally like the end member A exceptthat the inlet and outlet passages A and A open at the bottom of theendmember and not at the sides. The upper end member DD, is generallylike the end member D of the construction first described. In this formof the invention the end members AB and DD are formed with slotted earsA and D respectively receiving the clamping bolts by means 0 which theelectrode box is detachably clamped together. The electrodes BC and BCare each formed with an aperture B and the electrodes BC are formed withtwo short slots B at op osite sides of the aperture B while the 'eectrodes BC are each formed with an elongated slot 13 at the oppositeside of the plate from the aperture B The insulating gaskets C are iden-B isat the center of one side of the gasket. 0

To prevent the electrodes and gaskets and particularly the upper onesfrom bulging at the inner side of the apertures B and O, I preferablyform a lug D on the end member D to engage the upper gasket 0 at theinner side of the aperture C 'f. With all of the forms ot the inventiondisclosed it will be apparent that the flow of fluid to be electrolyzedtakes place through the zigzag channel formed by the spaces between theadjacent. p airs of electrodes and the elongated ports formed in theelectrodes. In the construction shown in Figs. 1. and 9, the provisionof the closed channel leadin through the stack of electrodes and formedby registering apertures in the electrodes and insulation makes itpossible to connect bot-h the inlet and outlet conduits directly to oneend member of the electrode box as is frequently desirable.

In the construction shown in Fig. 6, one

of the current supply conductors X is separately connected to each ofthe electrodes B while the other current supply conductor Y isseparately connected to each of the electrodes B. lVith this arrangementthe full potential between the conductors X and Y exists between eachadjacent pair of electrodes. It is one of the important features of myinvention, however, that many differ ent arrangements of circuitconnections may be employed in order to obtainthe desired potentialdifference between the electrodes. For instance, as shown in Fig. l, thesupply conductor X is connected to the electrode plate at. the top ofthe electrode box while the conductor -Y is connected to the electrodeplate at the bottom of the box. With this arrangement the difl'erence ofpotential I existing between each adjacent pair of electrodes will beonly a fraction of the potential dilference between conductors X and Y,

It will be apparent that by a mere change in the thickness of theinsulation employed to space the electrodes apart, the distance betweenthe electrodes and consequently the volume of the spaces between theelectrodes and the intensity of current flow for a given potentialdifference between the supply conductors may be varied as desiredthrough a wide range. It will be apparent also that the electrodes andgaskets may be readily removed for cleaning or replacement whenever thisis desirable, notwithstanding the cementing action of the fluid treatedon the joints exposed to it.

While in accordance with the provisions of the statutes I haveillustrated and described the best forms of my invention now known to meit will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be madein the form of the apparatus disclosed without departing from the spiritof my invention, and that certain features of the invention maysometimes be employed with advantage without a corresponding use ofother features of the invention.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is,

1. An electrode box comprising in combination a stack of spaced apartelectrode plates, each of which is formed with an elongated apertureextending along and adjacent to one of its edges, insulating materialinterposed between each adjacent pair of plates at their margins toclose the edges of the spaces between the plates, said plates beingarranged with said apertures extending through adjacent plates atopposite sides of said stack, whereby said apertures unite with theinterplate spaces to form a zigzag;

plates are closed and the walls of said apertures unite to form apassage through said stack of electrodes, said electrodes having otherand non-registering ports extending through them which connect thespaces between the electrodes and unite with said spaces to provide azigzag channel through the electrode stack, with provisions at one end,of the stack connecting said passage and channel, and conduitconnections to said passage and channel at the opposite end of saidstack and means for clamping said electrodes and interposed insulatingmaterial together.

3. An electrode box comprising a stack of spaced apart electrode platesformed with a series of registering apertures, insulating materialinterposed between said electrodes at their margins and formed withapertures registering with said electrode apertures whereby the edges ofthe spaces between the plates are closed and the walls of said aperturesunite to form a passage through said stack of electrodes, saidelectrodes having Other and non-registering ports extending through themwhich connect the spaces be tween the electrodes and unite with saidspaces to provide a zigzag channel through the electrode stack, a basemember formed with inlet and outlet ports on which said electrode stackis placed with one of said ports-communicating with said passage and theother with said channel, standards at the sides of said stack andconnected at their 'lower'ends to said base member, a crosshead securedto the other ends of said standards, a clamping screw working in saidstandard and an end member for said stack engaged by said screw andformed with a chamber connecting the corresponding ends of said passageand channel.

4. An electrode box comprising a stack of spaced apart electrode platesformed with a series of registering apertures, insulating materialinterposed between said electrodes at their margins and formed withapertures registering with said electrode apertures whereby the edges ofthe spaces between the plates are closed and said apertures unite toform a passage through said stack of: electrodes, said electrodes havingother and non-registering ports extending through them which connect thespaces between the electrodes and unite with said weasel end of saidstack from the last mentioned end member for connecting said passage 10and channel.

HARRY B. HARTMAN.

Witnesses ARNOLD KA'rz, S. STEWART.

